Ready to use haircoloring foil

ABSTRACT

Ready to use sheets of aluminum foil sized specifically for salon use and dispensed in an engineered delivery system that allows for rapid fingertip use.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Ready to use sheets of aluminum foil sized specifically for salonuse and dispensed in an engineered delivery system that allows for rapidfingertip use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Aluminum foil is widely used in the Professional Beauty Industryon both woman and men of all ages during the application of haircolor.The foil itself is used to isolate specific strands of hair so that aspecific shade of haircolor can be applied to those strands withoutaffecting the other strands nearby. This approach allows a particulareffect or “look” to be created in a client's hair.

[0003] This process of haircoloring sometimes referred to ashighlighting, lowlighting, tinting, streaking, or weaving works asfollows: 1) strands of hair are placed on a of piece of foil, 2)haircolor and developers are then placed on these strands usually withan applicator brush, 3) the foil is then folded up toward the scalp, 4)the sides of the foil are then folded inward creating a packet or “wrap”that completely isolates these strands of hair from all others. Thisprocess continues and can involve as many as 100 pieces of foil perapplication. Since this process is very tedious and repetitive it ishelpful to have at the point of application, foil that is already cut tothe ideal size and the exact amount to complete the application. Becausethis application is very technical, it is almost always done in aprofessional salon environment by colorists who are skilled in thetrade.

[0004] Since only a few strands of hair are wrapped with each piece offoil, a common trend in the Beauty Industry is to work with a foil sheetthat is between 3.5 and 6 inches in width. This narrow width allows forwrapping of small sections of hair, which is desired.

[0005] Prior to the present invention, salons had no choice but to usefoil that was intended for consumer and industrial/institutional usessuch as cooking, storing, and general usage. Although economical andreadily available in roll format at supermarkets, foodservicedistributors, and paper supply companies, this type of foil was entirelytoo big for use in haircoloring applications without furtherpreparation. As a result, salons waste hours of valuable time each daycutting and tearing foil into useable and manageable sizes for use inhaircoloring applications. Enough foil had to be prepared for eachapplication to each client.

[0006] To improve their situation and get away from the constant cuttingof large industrial rolls of foil (usually 12 to 18 inches in width and25 to 1000 feet in length), many salons gravitated towards interfoldedaluminum foil sheets, commonly referred to in the foodservice industryas “pop up foil”. Since this product was designed for constantrepetitive wrapping of small food products, such as baked potatoes orsandwiches, it was commercially available in 2 sizes, (9″×10.75″ or12″×10.75″) both in a very light weight foil gauge. This ensuredcomplete coverage of a particular food product. The smaller of the twosheet sizes became most prevalent in the Beauty Industry for reasonsstated below.

[0007] Since the interfolded foil offered a fold or “crease” in thecenter (part of the interfolding process) salons could easily tear thefoil sheet in half along the crease. Once cut in half, the sheet sizebecame approximately 5.375 inches wide and 10.75 inches long, a useableand much more manageable width for salons, that required no otheralterations.

[0008] The foodservice interfolded sheets became available in piles orstacks that contained either 200 or 500 sheets per dispenser box.Because the entire stack of sheets was interfolded together, each time asheet was pulled out from the box or dispensed, the next subsequentsheet was already partially sticking out of the box, ready to be easilygrabbed by the user; similar to facial tissues. By the virtue ofinterfolding the sheets together, the desired pop up/pop out effect wasachieved making grabbing and securing the next piece of foil easierversus having to grab and separate a piece of foil from a pile that isjust stacked one on top of the other (current method).

[0009] Although interfolded sheets manufactured for foodservice use madepreparing hair foils easier versus the cutting up of large industrialrolls, salons still had to spend hours tearing foils in half and werestill left to work with a product that was not specifically designed fortheir application. Further, due to the foodservice foil being a verylight gauge, and the quick hurried approach taken by those cutting thefoil, a straight precise cut was not always achieved. Therefore, thistearing method resulted in a fair amount of undesired foil that waswasted and had to be discarded.

[0010] The preparation (cutting and/or tearing) of these interfoldedfoils occurred in advance, “behind the scenes”, away from the client asa colorist would not have the time to easily perform three actions whileholding an applicator brush and working on their client; 1) dispense alarge food foil sheet, 2) tear the sheet in half, 3) apply the foil andcolor products to the hair. In this manner, the colorist would have toset the applicator brush down each time he/she wanted to tear a piece offoil in half and then pick it up again to apply the hair color. Sinceupwards of 100 hundred foils are applied to a single client, thisbecomes a very unproductive situation. Even if this unproductiveapproach is taken, there would be insufficient room at the workstation(typically a 10″×15″ surface area) to house a foodservice dispenser boxthat was 9 inches wide as the workstation is limited in size and filledwith many other necessities including multiple color bowls, brushes,hair color tubes, an application timer, etc.

[0011] Once torn in half “behind the scenes”, the interfolded foil wouldbe brought to the workstation and stacked into a manageable pile for usein the haircoloring process. This pile of foil became easilydisorganized due to the many hindrances at the work area, and often blewoff the workstation by the breeze created from someone walking by oreven a blow dryer used at a nearby workstation. This presented a sloppyand unprofessional image in most color departments.

[0012] Further, the preparation of foils was done “behind the scenes” sothat the client would not be exposed to the fact that salons were usingfoil designed and packaged for food on their client's head. In thismanner, the professionalism and longevity of the Beauty Industry can bepreserved, as clients would perceive that this was strictly aprofessional application that could not be achieved on their own, athome, using foodservice/kitchen foil.

[0013] Although interfolded sheets of aluminum foil offered byfoodservice companies for food applications are now commerciallyavailable in widths ranging from 7 to 12 inches, (depending upon theparticular manufacturer), a width less than 7 inches, sized speciallyfor salon use, and ready to use without further preparation, has notcommercially existed until this invention.

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,023 relates to a dispensing carton fortissues, aluminum foils, plastic wraps or the like which has a topportion which includes an elongated opening for withdrawing tissues fromthe carton. The dispensing carton includes a plurality of strings havingfirst and second ends. The plurality of strings is configured to form aslit for holding the tissues to prevent dropping into the carton.

[0015] Disposable facial tissues are conventionally contained in asubstantially rectangular carton having an elongated opening in the topsurface. The carton contains a stack of interfolded tissues arrangedsuch that they can be dispersed through the opening of the carton. Theembodiments of the invention may be used with those materials sold in aroll form, such as aluminum foil, plastic wrap or the like, rather thanindividual sheets interfolded together.

[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,017 relates to a dispensing face for adispensing unit comprising at least one stack of laminar articleswherein the dispensing face is continuous, comprises lateral outer edgesand longitudinal outer edges and not less than two orifices.

[0017] The prior art describes the sequential or pop-up dispensers. In apop-up dispensing unit, a tissue extends through the dispensing orificeto an elevation above that of the dispensing unit. The consumer simplygrasps the exposed portion of the tissue, without the necessity ofinserting fingers through the dispensing orifice. In pop-up dispensing,each tissue has a lead portion that passes through the dispensingorifice, and a trailing portion that later passes through the dispensingorifice. Typically, the trailing portion of a first tissue to bedispensed overlaps the leading portion of the next tissue to bedispensed. The overlap is generally measured parallel to the directionof withdrawal of the tissues through the dispensing orifice. The overlapis usually, but not necessarily, the same for each tissue and constantthroughout the width of each tissue. As the consumer withdraws the firsttissue, the leading portion of the next tissue is pulled through theorifice for later dispensing.

[0018] The sequential withdrawal of the succeeding tissue through thedispensing orifice occurs due to the interfolding of adjacent tissues.The tissues are folded against one another in a variety ofconfigurations, so that the friction of the trailing portion of thewithdrawn sheet against the succeeding sheet pulls the leading portionof the succeeding sheet through the dispensing orifice.

[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,357 relates to an upright, or pop-up, boxdispenser having a curvilinear opening for dispensing thin sheets ofpaper such as tissues or non-woven products. The curvilinear opening maybe in the shape of an “S”, multiple “S” shapes or arcs. The inventionallows for interfolded single sheets to be dispensed without tearing,while maintaining these sheets in an aesthetic pop-up presentation andprotecting the sheets that remain in the box.

[0020] U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,281 relates to a dispenser for folded sheetsand bulk packets. The invention provides a folded sheet dispenser with avertical end opening extending into the top with an internal controlplate which controls the one at a time consecutive removal of foldedsheets.

[0021] U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,418 relates to a method and apparatus forpackaging tissue into a pop-up dispenser. The pop-up dispenser being acarton having a top wall, a bottom wall and four sidewalls that join thetop wall to the bottom wall. The carton also has an opening formed inthe top wall through which the tissues can be withdrawn. The methodincludes the steps of providing several tissues that are substantiallyidentical to one another. The tissues are described as a first tissueand a plurality of other tissues. The several tissues are transported toa folding station and are interfolded to form an interfolded assemblage.The first tissue is colored or has a visual indicator printed or appliedto it to form a visually distinctive tissue. The interfolded assemblageis then cut to form a plurality of clips of interfolded tissues.

[0022] U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,913 relates to a pop-up tissue dispenser. Inone embodiment, a visually distinctive tissue has primary and secondaryfolds and a visual indicator disposed adjacent the secondary fold. Inanother embodiment, the visually distinctive tissue and the othertissues form a color interface that is visible through the cartonopening prior to the removal of any tissues from the carton.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The present invention solves the major flaws found in all thealuminum foil products used for professional haircoloring up until thispoint.

[0024] The present invention relates to a hair foil sheet ranging inwidth from about 3.5 to 6 inches. It is an object of the presentinvention for the hair foil sheet to have a weight or gauge ranging fromabout 0.00035 to 0.001 inches in thickness with a preferred weight orgauge ranging from 0.0005 to 0.0007 inches thick. It is an object of thepresent invention for the hair foil sheet to be embossed. It is anobject of the present invention for the hair foil sheet to benon-embossed. It is an object of the present invention for the hairfoilsheets to be interfolded.

[0025] The present invention relates to a system for dispensing hairfoil sheets comprising; a pop up/out dispenser having interfolded sheetsplaced in the dispenser. The interfolded sheets have a width rangingfrom about 3.5 to 6.0 inches.

[0026] It is an object of the present invention for the hair foil sheetto be any color foil.

[0027] It is an object of the present invention for the hair foil sheetto comprise any and all types of alloys.

[0028] It is an object of the present invention to provide a ready touse haircoloring foil that is ready to use upon dispensing and requiresno cutting, tearing, or preparing, thus eliminating hours of preparationtime each day. It is an object of the present invention to provide ahair coloring foil that is sized specifically for salon use and has noother secondary or tertiary application. It is an object of the presentinvention to provide a hair coloring foil that offers the ideal weight,softness, and texture that salons prefer in a hair coloring foil. It isan object of the present invention for the hair coloring foil to bedispensed in a convenient pop up/pop out dispenser that allows for rapidfingertip use. It is an object of the present invention for the haircoloring foil to be quickly dispensed with one hand and applied to thehair in one single motion without the need to perform multiple steps toachieve the same results.

[0029] Due to its convenience, size, and professional image, the foil ofthe present invention can be brought out from “behind the scenes” andused at the workstation. It is an object of the present invention forthe dispenser box to be about 3.5 to 6 inches. It is an object of thepresent invention for the width of the dispenser to fit much moreconveniently at the workstation versus a 9-inch wide foodservice box

[0030] It is an object of the present invention to provide for a meansto store the product when its not being used.

[0031] It is an object of the present invention for the dispensing unitto be portable, lightweight, rigid container, semi-rigid container,flexible container, flexible box, or any combination.

[0032] The foil of the present invention is releasably attached to eachother. Each foil is releasably attached to both adjacent foils by anyreleasable attachment means, which allows easy separation to occur asthe foil is being dispensed. The releasable attachment means maycomprise means such as adhesion, friction, cohesion, or other forces,which releasably attach adjacent foils.

[0033] The present invention relates to a method of putting hair foil ina person's hair. A user removes a first sheet of hair foil from a pop-updispenser. The sheet of hair foil has a leading portion and a trailingportion. The lead portion of the sheet of hair foil extends through adispensing orifice to an elevation above that of the dispensing unit.The trailing portion of the first hair foil overlaps with a lead portionof the next hair foil to be dispensed. By pulling the first sheet ofhair foil through the orifice, the next hair foil sheet pops up throughthe orifice. The first hair foil sheet is applied to a person's hair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034]FIG. 1 is a front view of a dispenser of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] The present invention relates to a hair foil having a width ofabout 3.5″ to 6.0″.

[0036] The foil has a weight or gauge ranging from about 0.00035 to0.001 inches in thickness and preferably about 0.0005 to 0.0007 inches.The foil can be embossed or non-embossed. In an embodiment, the hairfoil sheets are interfolded and presented in a pop up/out dispenser. Thedispenser of the present invention can comfortably fit at a workstation.The hair foil can be of any color. The hair foil can be made of any orall alloys of foil.

[0037] In one embodiment the foil sheet is approximately 5″×11″ andrequires no cutting, folding or tearing. The sheets are placed in apop-up dispenser that fits at any workstation. The dispenser neatlyorganizes the foils and allows a user to dispense the foil with onehand. In a preferred embodiment, the foil has an embossed pattern. Thisprevents the foil from slipping out of the hair. In a preferredembodiment, the foil has a pre-folded center that allows the foils to beeasily folded and wrapped.

[0038] In one embodiment, the dispenser can hold at least 500 ready touse foil sheets. FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a dispenser of thepresent invention. Dispenser 10 is made of four sidewalls 12, a bottomwall 14 and a top wall 16. The top wall 16 has an opening 18 throughwhich foil sheets 20 can be withdrawn. In a preferred embodiment, thefoils sheets 20 are interfolded.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, in a pop-up dispensing unit of thepresent invention, a hair foil sheet extends through the dispensingorifice to an elevation above that of the dispensing unit. The usersimply grasps the exposed portion of the hair foil, without thenecessity of inserting fingers through the dispensing orifice. Each hairfoil has a lead portion that passes through the dispensing orifice, anda trailing portion that later passes through the dispensing orifice. Atrailing portion of a first hair foil to be dispensed overlaps theleading portion of the next hair foil to be dispensed. The overlap isusually, but not necessarily, the same for each hair foil and constantthroughout the width of each hair foil. As the user withdraws the firstsheet of hair foil, the leading portion of the next sheet of hair foilis pulled through the orifice for later dispensing.

[0040] The sequential withdrawal of the succeeding hair foil through thedispensing orifice occurs due to the interfolding of adjacent sheets ofhair foil. The sheets of hair foil are folded against one another in avariety of configurations, so that the friction of the trailing portionof the withdrawn sheet against the succeeding sheet pulls the leadingportion of the succeeding sheet through the dispensing orifice. The usercan then apply the hair foil to the hair.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair foil sheet ranging in width from about 3.5to 6 inches.
 2. A hair foil sheet having a weight or gauge ranging fromabout 0.00035 to 0.001 inches in thickness.
 3. The hair foil sheet ofclaim 2 wherein said weight or gauge ranges from about 0.0005-0.0007inches in thickness.
 4. The hair foil sheet of claim 1 wherein saidsheet is embossed.
 5. The hair foil sheet of claim 1 wherein said sheetis non-embossed.
 6. A system for dispensing hair foil sheets comprising;a pop up/out dispenser; interfolded sheets placed in said dispenser; andsaid interfolded sheets having a width ranging from about 3.5 to 6.0inches.
 7. The hair foil sheet of claim 1 wherein said sheet can be anycolor foil.
 8. The hair foil sheet of claim 1 wherein said sheetcomprises any and all types of alloy.
 9. A method of putting hair foilin a persons hair comprising: removing a first sheet of hair foil from apop-up dispenser; said sheet of hair foil having a lead portion and atrailing portion; said lead portion of said sheet of hair foil extendingthrough a dispensing orifice to an elevation above that of saiddispensing unit; said trailing portion of said first hair foiloverlapping with a lead portion of a next hair foil to be dispensed;pulling said next hair foil sheet through said orifice of said dispenserby withdrawing said first sheet of hair foil; and applying said firsthair foil to a persons hair.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein said hairfoil can be dispensed with one hand and used immediately without furtherpreparation